Wire-fence post



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIRE FENCE ST No. 467,434. Patented Jan. 19, 1892. I

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. P. RANDALL.

WIRE FENCE POST.

No. 467,434. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

as /Q QHIo'u wt QMJzM NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. RANDALL, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

WIRE-=FENCE POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 487,434, dated January 19, 1892. Application filed October 15, 1891. $erial No. 408,807- (No modeli) To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in \Vire Fences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a novel, strong, durable, and economical metallic post for wire fencing, and to provide novel means for securely retaining the wire strand in a wire-receiving orifice of a metallic post, whereby repairs can be conveniently and quickly effected, the fencing can be preser ved in perfect order at comparatively small expense, and the wire strands are held under tension by a peculiar bend formed therein where they engage the fence-post.

The invention consists in the combination, with a fence-post having a wire-receivingorifice, of a wire strand formed with a bend, which extends through the said orifice, anda locking-plate also engaging the orifice and formed with a pair of arms or members, located at opposite sides of the post and having notches, with which the wire strand engages, at the terminations of the bend therein, for the purpose of supporting and securely holding the wire strand under tension at opposite sides of and in juxtaposition to the post.

The invention also consists in other features of construction and combination or arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metallic fence-post constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking-plates. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified construction of metallic fence-post embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the locking-plate employed with the modified construction, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of another modified construction of fence-post, and Fig. 7 is a detail top edge view of the locking-plate shown in Fig. 5.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The numerals l and 2 indicate a pair of metallic sections, each of which is bent to form flanges 3 and 4 at right angles to each other. These sections are superimposed at their angles or corners 5, where they are rigidly connected through the'medium of a line of rivets 6 in such manner that a fence-post is pro duced having the flanges 3 approximately parallel with each other, and the flanges 4 extend at right angles thereto. One of the flanges 4 is formed along its length with a series of incisions 7, extending inwardly from the edge of the flange and terminating at its inner portion in a wire-receiving orifice 8, through which the bend 8 of a wire strand 8 is adapted to pass and to be firmly secured in position through the medium of alockingplate 9, hereinafter described. In order to introduce the bend 8-" of the wire strand 8" l centrally between its end arms or members 10 with a vertical slot or recess 13 to receive the flange 4 of the fence post in such manner that the arms or members 10lie at opposite sides of the flange and sustain the Wire strand at such points. After the wire strand is inserted into-the angular notches 12 the upper end portions of the arms or members are pressed or crimped over the wire strand for the purpose of locking the latter in engagement with such arms or members. By this means the wire strands are securely locked in position, and they are prevented from displacement or disengagement from the post.

If repairs are essential, the locking-plates can be readily removed by bending the edges of the incisions 7 laterally, thereby rendering the plates susceptible of removal, in order to renew the Wire strands, as will be obvious. This renders it possible to preserve the fencing in perfect order at small expense.

The peculiar construction of the right-angular metallic sections superimposed and riveted together adjacent to their angles or cor ners provides a strong, durable, and economical fence-post which can be readily inserted into the ground and which can be manufac-' tallic fence-post which can be rolled from any metal suitable for the purpose. This post comprises a flange 14, having along one edge an enlarged portion or bead 15 for the purpose of rendering the post rigid and substantial. The flange 14: is provided with incisions or passages 16, which extend inwardly from the outer edge of the flange and terminate in circular or other suitably-shaped wire-receiving orifices 17, each of which is adapted to contain a locking-plate 18, constructed as illustrated in Fig. 5. Thislocking-plate is formed at each extremity with an upwardly-projecting arm or member 19, having in its upper end 'a V-s'haped or otherwise suitably-constructed notch 20, with which the wire strand is adapted to engage at opposite sides of the fence-post, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 4:. Thelocking-plate is formed cen: trally between the arms or members 19 with a vertical slot or recess 21 for receiving the fence-:post-and placing the two arms or members 19 at opposite sides thereof.

In practicethe locking-platesare-introduced inthe incisions orpassages 16 and are caused to stand upright or perpendicular in the orifice's 17. The wire strand is caused to engage the respective notches 20 and subsequently the upper end portions of the arms or members 19 are compressed or crimped over the wire strand for the purpose of securely looking :the same in engagement with the lockingplate. By this construction the movable locking-plates are held in proper position by the tension of the wire strands, and the latter are so securely retained in position as to effectu ally prevent their accidental displacement or disengagement from the fence-post.

My invention provides a fence-post which is strong, durable,and economical, and the novel construction of locking-plate provides means. for securely retaining the wire strands in proper position, while rendering it possible to effect repairs and preserve the fencing in perfect order at small expense.

The metallic. fence-post exhibited in Figs. 1

. and 2 can be made of narrow strips of sheetv metal, and consequently the article can be economically produced,whilethe double thickness obtained by superimposing the two rightangular sections imparts strength and rigidity to that portion of the post, whereby it is rendered more durable, efficient, and practicable than a sheet-metal post composed of a single piece of sheet metal bent or folded to form a series of radiating flanges.

In the modified construction, Fig. 6, the metallic fence post comprises four radiating flanges 21, united together in one structure. This form of post can be produced by rolling, andthe wire-receiving orifices 22 in one of the flanges can be punched out or otherwise produced. The locking-plates used in connection with this post may be constructed as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 oras described with reference to Figs. 4: and 5.

The formation of the bend 8 in the wire strand throws a portion thereof out of the horizontal plane in which the main portion of the strand lies. The extremities 23 of the bend 8* are engaged with the notched arms of the locking-plate, and since the wire strand and the plate are both extended through the same orifice in the post the fence-strand is securely confined in engagement with the post and is held under some tension. By passing the bend of the wire strand and the locking-plate through the same orifice in the post I provide a superior construction, while enabling repairs to be conveniently and quickly effected and rendering it possible to economically preserve the fencing in perfect order.

An important result attained by the bend in the fence-strand resides in the fact that the strand has three distinct points of supportat each fence-post, and by reason of the bend, in connection with the locking-plate with its two arms, the fence-strand is so effectually tied that it cannot move lengthwise. Consequently the fence-strand is maintained in an approximately horizontal plane and sagging is prevented.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of a metallic fence-post consisting of a pair of right-angular sections superimposed and riveted together adjacent to their angles or corners, a flange of one section having a wire-receiving orifice, with a fence-strand having a bend arranged in said orifice, and a locking-plate also arranged in the orifice and formed with two arms or members having notches in their upper ends to receive and support the wire strand at opposite sides of the bend therein, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a metallic fence-post consisting of a pair of right-angular sections superimposed and riveted together adjacent to their angles or corners, a flange of one section having incisions extending inwardly from the edge thereof and terminating in wire-receiving orifices, with locking-plates arranged in the orifices and each formed with a pair of arms or members having notches in their upper portions which engage and hold the Wire strand at opposite sides of the post-flange, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a fence-post having a wire-receiving orifice, of a wire strand having a bend arranged in said orifice, and a locking-plate also arranged in the orifice and formed with two arms or members having their upper portions provided with notches to engage and hold the wire strand at opposite sides of the bend therein, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a fence-post having a wire-receiving orifice, of a wire strand having a bend arranged in said orifice, and a locking-plate also arranged in the orifice and formed with two arms or members provided with notches in their upper portions to receit e the fence-strand at opposite sides of its bend, said arms having their notched portions compressed or criinped over the wire strand to securely lock the latter in engagement with the locking-plate, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN r, RANDALL. Ls

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. BAMFORD, HENRY H. EARL. 

